sorry dragonsoul, but a staff doubles as a walking stick, and as an experienced nomad, i can say without reserve that you're going to appreciate that benefit if you're the adventuring type, and that benefit will outweigh the slight edge possessed by wands. however, you make a fair general use point for more homebody types.

I thought this guy new his stuff, but the way he answered the question about wands just illustrates that he's a completely poser with no substance. He's probably never even broke the 9th circle. Seriously, the whole quality of this thing just goes completely down when you let in noobs like that and give them a place to speak. I came for a serious discussion of thaumatorgical Hat Couture and instead there's some guy blathering on about wands. Does he even know how a staff is meant to work? You're meant to walk with it, not carry it about like some handbag.

I've been a fan of your show for a long time now and I've got a lot of respect for what you do. I would consider myself a devoted fan, but if you keeping on pulling cheap crud like this, I'm going to stop attuning in and go somewhere decent like Warlock Conversation where people are familiar with Familiars and can tell a pentagon from a hexagon.

How DARE you go against the book of Opassisak? You're destroying the sanctity of Wizarding and undermining the institution of Occult style! There will be anarchy in the streets! Next thing you know apprentices will be going around BARE HEADED!

As a combat mage I prefer using arcane steel gauntlets, they have neither the power of a staff or accuracy of a wand but they add no extra weight as I would be wearing gauntlets with my demon hide en-fused steel armour anyway, also they allow for more flexibility in combat as I can then channel spells through my weapon and/or shield.

BrotherRool:I thought this guy new his stuff, but the way he answered the question about wands just illustrates that he's a completely poser with no substance. He's probably never even broke the 9th circle. Seriously, the whole quality of this thing just goes completely down when you let in noobs like that and give them a place to speak. I came for a serious discussion of thaumatorgical Hat Couture and instead there's some guy blathering on about wands. Does he even know how a staff is meant to work? You're meant to walk with it, not carry it about like some handbag.

I've been a fan of your show for a long time now and I've got a lot of respect for what you do. I would consider myself a devoted fan, but if you keeping on pulling cheap crud like this, I'm going to stop attuning in and go somewhere decent like Warlock Conversation where people are familiar with Familiars and can tell a pentagon from a hexagon.

Disappointed. Don't do it again.

In addition to what you said, I'm always angered whenever they say that every wizard needs a beard. You try becoming an 11th evolution biomancer and see if you can avoid the occasional pyromantic crab cancer or two. Plus, I'm 26% reptile! You have any idea how ridiculous I'd look with mammalian hair? I was looking for real fashion tips to make up for my current out-of-place dolphin fin, but this radio show just proved to be as unhelpful as ever.

DVS BSTrD:How DARE you go against the book of Opassisak? You're destroying the sanctity of Wizarding and undermining the institution of Occult style! There will be anarchy in the streets! Next thing you know apprentices will be going around BARE HEADED!

And Paul should keep that beard.

well I am just going to go and say that having a large hat just makes you more of a target on the battlefield, infact I normally wear a helmet instead of a hat. it is pointless to follow a tradition unless there is a good reason behind it, it is also wizards like you who ask 'wand or staff' why not go for a totem, magic gauntlet, deck of cards or even bare hand for the particularly skilled.

DVS BSTrD:How DARE you go against the book of Opassisak? You're destroying the sanctity of Wizarding and undermining the institution of Occult style! There will be anarchy in the streets! Next thing you know apprentices will be going around BARE HEADED!

And Paul should keep that beard.

well I am just going to go and say that having a large hat just makes you more of a target on the battlefield, infact I normally wear a helmet instead of a hat. it is pointless to follow a tradition unless there is a good reason behind it, it is also wizards like you who ask 'wand or staff' why not go for a totem, magic gauntlet, deck of cards or even bare hand for the particularly skilled.

Maintaining traditions are what made Avalon great! I bet you're one of those Bleeding scroll divination types who think we should give the illegal Wiccan immigrants free healing potions!

Akytalusia:sorry dragonsoul, but a staff doubles as a walking stick, and as an experienced nomad, i can say without reserve that you're going to appreciate that benefit if you're the adventuring type, and that benefit will outweigh the slight edge possessed by wands. however, you make a fair general use point for more homebody types.

True, when I heard Dragonsoul's advice, my familiar was squeaking in disgust(needed to zap him, to shut him up- thank you for causing domestic violence BTW)

Listen Tholmrose, I don't question your experience, but you seem rather... scholar-ish typeI don't know exact details of the battle with Naburius, but from what I've heard you had plenty of cannon fodder to dispatch on it, while you prepared spellIt is good and all, but some of us prefer traveling alone (by "alone" I mean with familiar or golem, of course), and in these cases you need something that can double as weaponDagger is great (especially for sacrifices), but since we aren't warriors or assassins, most of us lack reflexes to pull it out fast enough (learned it the hard way, sadly)So staff is much better choice for cracking some undead skullsNot to mention the ability to provide additional magical power (best models can even double the spell output), while wands provide only the output the wizard is capable of

Of course I always carry around (and by "I carry around" I mean my familiar) wand for complex and delicate spells, because I admit that casting some spells with staff is like dissecting animals with woodcutter's axe.But in day-to-day situations nothing can be better than good strong staff

DVS BSTrD:How DARE you go against the book of Opassisak? You're destroying the sanctity of Wizarding and undermining the institution of Occult style! There will be anarchy in the streets! Next thing you know apprentices will be going around BARE HEADED!

And Paul should keep that beard.

well I am just going to go and say that having a large hat just makes you more of a target on the battlefield, infact I normally wear a helmet instead of a hat. it is pointless to follow a tradition unless there is a good reason behind it, it is also wizards like you who ask 'wand or staff' why not go for a totem, magic gauntlet, deck of cards or even bare hand for the particularly skilled.

Maintaining traditions are what made Avalon great! I bet you're one of those Bleeding scroll divination types who think we should give the illegal Wiccan immigrants free healing potions!

Great wizards is what made avalon great, and those wizards took risks. Have you ever fought a card using wizards, they are hard to predict and will very quickly fatigue you if your not careful. I am actually a battle mage and I have seen enough combat to tell you that hat is not useful for anything more then making it easier to set your hair and by extension beard on fire. You probably don't even pay your thrull minions. Also healing potions are a dim a dozen.

And as if the perennial sniping between the wand and staff camps weren't enough, we're now hearing reports of false staves turning up in discount and pawn shops. They're actually just lengths of completely ordinary wood with wands inside. Because the embedded wand is genuine, they pass most rudimentary authenticity tests, and will actually perform up to a point. But you end up with the power disadvantage of a wand, with a dexterity disadvantage of a full staff.

Most of these fakes appear to be coming from the Eastern Realms from opportunists working "fourth shift" at the staffwright shops. Not all staves from the Eastern Realms are fraudulent (two of history's finest staffwrights are located there), but inexperienced buyers should exercise exceptional caution.

well I am just going to go and say that having a large hat just makes you more of a target on the battlefield, infact I normally wear a helmet instead of a hat. it is pointless to follow a tradition unless there is a good reason behind it, it is also wizards like you who ask 'wand or staff' why not go for a totem, magic gauntlet, deck of cards or even bare hand for the particularly skilled.

Maintaining traditions are what made Avalon great! I bet you're one of those Bleeding scroll divination types who think we should give the illegal Wiccan immigrants free healing potions!

Great wizards is what made avalon great, and those wizards took risks. Have you ever fought a card using wizards, they are hard to predict and will very quickly fatigue you if your not careful. I am actually a battle mage and I have seen enough combat to tell you that hat is not useful for anything more then making it easier to set your hair and by extension beard on fire. You probably don't even pay your thrull minions. Also healing potions are a dim a dozen.

Helments are too much of a distraction on the battlefield are simply incapable of providing the sort of enchantment buffs of a complete wizard's robe ensamble. And if we keep codling the thralls they'll never learn to pull themselves up by their own clog straps. If Merlin where here today he'd say the exact same thing!

As more of an adventuring sort myself, I do prefer the feel of a good staff and hooded robe, but that's mostly for convenience and for remaining relatively anonymous, especially around areas that are less friendly to us Wizard types. To that end, I also have a sword strapped to my side as well. Mostly for decoration, but I must say it has come in handy before :).

Now I respect merlin as much as the next magic user, but lets face it he was very old fashioned he wasn't that respectful when it came to witches and he hardly had the most open minded opinion when it came to female wizards, just because they can't grow facial hair doesn't mean they can't cast good spells. I do say higher enchantment buffs is fine for the wizard who provides ranged support, but a helmet is second to non when it comes to the old problem of axe to the face which is a big problem for those mages who fight in the front. Thrull should be paid like any other employee you don't ask dwarfs to fight for equal payment.